This is one huge exposition. I only got to buildings 3, 4 and part of 7, but I can easily say it's the BEST exposition I've ever been to. Better than the salon du Chocolat or SIRAH or any of them. For one thing you understand the deep respect the French have for their land and their animals. No wonder the cuisine is magnificent. You can't separate French food from the land. It's a direct result of great attention to details. Another thing: this is a terrific way to visit France 'profunde'.

Small purveyors proudly share their products with you generously

Impossible to resist. As chef Marthe told me, 'these people could sell milk to a cow' - they are that charming and persuasive. And this cow bought the farm or tried to.

On 7.2 I tasted food from the Loire, Corse, Normandie, Lorraine, Midi-Pyranees, Augverne etc. There were accompanying restaurants serving formule lunches of each region. This is a foodies paradise. I must get this apple peeler-slicer thing! 15 euros only.

By the end of the show I felt I was still lugging overloaded suitcases like at CDG the day before.

I resisted tempting regional lunches and bought products instead. For once I was the ant/squirrel and not the grasshopper.

These are tortue(sp) a kind of fromagie gateaux?

Oh you tell me svp.

Did I say regional wines were flowing?

More out of this world cheese cakes me thinks.

What I lugged home. It could have been so much more. I must return and so must you if you're in Paris till the 3rd of March. The Agricultural Salon lasts a full week and is such a special experience. You won't see many chic scarved Parisians there. But plenty of big families from the boonies I guess having a super grand time.

And so will you I promise!

*If anyone knows how I can get an INTERNATIONAL PRESS CARD do tell please. They would not count me as 'Press'.

I've STILL yet to make it to the Salon de l'Agriculture! It looks like such a fantastic outing and it also looks like you made the most of your time there.Very happy to have read that you've moved to Paris. :) Bienvenue!

I did a little research on international press passes and it looks like you should check out http://www.ifj.org/en/pages/international-press-cardTheir card seems to be the most recognized worldwide, but you have to be a member of a national organization in order to qualify. They have a list of such organizations in the US and Canada on their website. Good luck! And thanks a lot for making me so darned hungry!! Miam-miam!

You really did hit the nail on the head…the reason French food is so good is the great respect the French farmers have for their land, its countrysides and its inhabitants. http://www.basquefarmhouseinfrance.com/2013/02/10-principles-of-country-farming-and.html Good food is no accident. It is good because EVERYTHING is respected and cherished from beginning to end, from planting (or birth of livestock), to how it is cared for, to how it is picked or butchered or stored and finally in how it is packaged/transported. Thank you for the great article :)

Carol, this exposition looks like heaven...delicious, entertaining, educational, and friendly.

I'm sure you've now got lots of French regions on your destination list, attuning your travel time to the season when the region's products are at their best. Perhaps there's a book/calendar idea in that notion...with lots of your paintings and witty and wise commentary?

Looks like tasty work! Marie is correct--http://www.ifj.org/en/pages/ifj-members-europe#france is the way to go. It is for working journalists rather with the backing of real journalism orgs. Good luck!

I once was fortunate enough to attend the International Seafood Expo in Boston. OMG, I understand what happened to you, as I thought we could do the whole show in one day, and managed to visit two and a half floors of the seven or eight floor convention. As I waddled out, after tasting EVERYTHING I decided that I could not come back the next day.....the other floors would have to wait for another visit!!!!

Looks fabulous and now that we've cancelled our trip at school hols next week this is a brilliant answer, Carol. Looks great fun and by the sound of it, we could go there a few times ;-)For that blackened dome cheesecake, it's a Tourteau fromagé from the Poitou region which uses fresh goat cheese. They look good!

Wow! Who would have thought a Salon de l’Agriculture could be so fascinating. Here's to getting your Intl presse pass, tout de suite. I'll email my son, he interned with Jim Bitterman at ABC News Paris, who now teaches as the American University I believe. He may know.

From Trisha-You can get in free as an international agriculture professional. You just have to show a business card if I remember correctly from last year. Free entry from the special booth. Should give details on their website

Love the cows! Wish I had room for one, would love to add to the petite ferme along w/ the goats,chickens & rabbits! I have my arrière grand-mère's apple peeler , it still works! You need one!Oh, the food looks so wonderful! I would be going back all day every day! Hope you get some goatie pics next visit! Well, all the animals! Look forward to more!

Ooh, that looks fun. By the way, sorry for the delay but I'm taking Biff for grooming tomorrow so that I can take a pic of him looking at his portrait. (His eyebrows are like lampshades at the moment, so all you see is black furball with no eyes ie not v photogenic)Gros bisous from both of us & glad to see you're being tres productive in Paris.

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♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5 and I'm still at it. Now I live by the Seine on l'Ile Saint-Louis. Do consider subscribing to my Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a taste of Paris in your mailbox every month to savor with a hot chocolate and croissant. I paint Paris dreams.